VHF Radio Aerial check in Darwin
Submitted: Saturday, Jun 19, 2010 at 21:10
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Member -Outback Mac C (VIC)
Arriving in
Darwin Tuesday morning. Any locals know who I could get to
check my Autotune Antenna on my Barrett VHF Radio. Have not been able to call in to VKS737 since leaving
home a month ago. Only twice has anyone heard me and they were both close by. (same
camping area) Had the radio checked out in
Cloncurry by the rudest bloke I've ever met who told me there was no probs with the radio (for a large fee), then proceeded to tell me that no one used them anymore and he hadn't worked on one for 5 yrs.
I had already told him I thought it was the aerial but he said he wasn't interested in what I thought! I had the Autotune rebuilt (for a 4 figure sum) when I bought the vehicle 2yrs ago. I don't know whether I have been taken for a ride all around (being female) or whether it is worth trying to get it working as we will be on the road for another 4 mnths or so.
Cheers Mac
Reply By: Olsen's 4WD Tours and Training - Saturday, Jun 19, 2010 at 21:31
Saturday, Jun 19, 2010 at 21:31
Central Comms
http://www.centralcomms.com.au/
AnswerID:
421474
Follow Up By: Member - Doug T (NT) - Sunday, Jun 20, 2010 at 01:18
Sunday, Jun 20, 2010 at 01:18
He said he'll be in
Darwin, not
Alice Springs.
.
FollowupID:
691871
Follow Up By: Olsen's 4WD Tours and Training - Sunday, Jun 20, 2010 at 06:33
Sunday, Jun 20, 2010 at 06:33
Oh %$$##$ must be more tired than I thought.
I just arrived
home after 21 days of driving
FollowupID:
691874
Follow Up By: Gone Bush (WA) - Sunday, Jun 20, 2010 at 07:34
Sunday, Jun 20, 2010 at 07:34
You're tired too Doug, he's a she.....
FollowupID:
691876
Reply By: oldfart1953 - Sunday, Jun 20, 2010 at 01:28
Sunday, Jun 20, 2010 at 01:28
G'Day Mac,
Sorry to hear about your dilemas.
I am a member of the
HF radio club as opposed to VKS737, I know that when I was in the
Darwin area last Sept to Nov I only made contact once or twice during skeds & I wasnt able to make contact with any other members via selcall.
Being so close to our foriegn neighbours to the north ....thats all I could pick up. Once I got below
Katherine &
Broome reception & transmission greatly improved. Hope this helps.... enjoy your trip.
CU down the road
AnswerID:
421487
Reply By: Member - Doug T (NT) - Sunday, Jun 20, 2010 at 01:32
Reply By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Sunday, Jun 20, 2010 at 08:21
Sunday, Jun 20, 2010 at 08:21
With reference to having been taken for a ride your recondition was a bit exxe in comparison to this one
http://www.hf-radio.com.au/component/page,
shop.product_details/flypage,
shop.flypage/product_id,75/category_id,2/manufacturer_id,0/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,61/
PS its an
HF radio.
Cheers
AnswerID:
421500
Reply By: anglepole - Sunday, Jun 20, 2010 at 10:11
Sunday, Jun 20, 2010 at 10:11
Hi Victoria,
You could try some one on this VKS 737 list in
Darwin.
http://www.vks737.on.net/pdfs/DOC%2009.pdf
I don't know what model radio you have (you keep referring to Barrett VHF, Barrett is a major manufacturer of HF) but any radio technician worth his/her salt could
check out the system easily. A proper
test should take less than an hour.
Most of these radios have a number of testing facilities that you can
check your self. Look in the hand book. If they look ok you may need to make sure the radio frequency circuit is on frequency, best done by a radio technician.
Hope this helps
Enjoy your trip
AnswerID:
421507
Reply By: MEMBER - Darian, SA - Sunday, Jun 20, 2010 at 11:37
Sunday, Jun 20, 2010 at 11:37
Trust you get the help you need with the HF - Barrett units are very common and a respected make - service should not be an issue in general. If staying in caravan parks, you might be lucky to bump into an owner who is up to speed with the techno issues on HF - as mentioned, you can access a bit of info on screen re power consumption etc. - it might be something simple like a loose earth etc. Also, as you've twigged, another user in your location communicating with a distant base would allow you to
test your unit. As for Cluncurry - nice town but thanks for the tip re radio repair (don't :-o).
AnswerID:
421528
Reply By: Isuzumu - Sunday, Jun 20, 2010 at 15:18
Sunday, Jun 20, 2010 at 15:18
I to have a Bbarrett HF 950 with auto tune antenna, now the first thing to
check is the antenna and to do this, you will need two people, stand next to the antenna and get the other person to press the tune button, if you do not hear a noise in the antenna then there s some thing wrong with it I have had to replace
mine recently.
AnswerID:
421544
Reply By: Member -Outback Mac C (VIC) - Monday, Jun 21, 2010 at 19:47
Monday, Jun 21, 2010 at 19:47
It is a Barrett 950 HF. (Don't know where the V came from!!!) I have tried pressing the Tune Button and having someone listen at the antenna. Nothing heard. I am sure it is a wiring / antenna problem, just need someone who can
check it. Have been paying VKS 737 licence for three years now and never got through to them.
Cheers Mac
AnswerID:
421658
Follow Up By: anglepole - Tuesday, Jun 22, 2010 at 09:47
Tuesday, Jun 22, 2010 at 09:47
Hi Again,
The tune button provides a small amount of power to tune the radio. To
check it out you will need to Selcall someone.
Darwin has a base with a
beacon Selcall 9499. You should hear a return call.
You could ring the VKS network in
Adelaide on 08 8287 6222 and ask can they recommend someone in
Darwin to help? If Steve is not preoccupied with other things he may be able to"walk you through" your problem. Have phone that you can take to your radio.
Lets know how you get on.
Good Luck
FollowupID:
692115
Reply By: The Geriatric Gypsie - Thursday, Jun 24, 2010 at 18:47
Thursday, Jun 24, 2010 at 18:47
goodday mac
also in
darwin at oasis c/p let me know where you are i will call around and have a quick look
steve
AnswerID:
421998
Follow Up By: Member -Outback Mac C (VIC) - Thursday, Jun 24, 2010 at 20:18
Thursday, Jun 24, 2010 at 20:18
Steve, we are at Boomerang Virginia Rd just up the road. will PM my mobile no.
thanks Mac
FollowupID:
692377
Follow Up By: The Geriatric Gypsie - Friday, Jun 25, 2010 at 09:04
Friday, Jun 25, 2010 at 09:04
morning guys
no pm no longer a member i am at
site 10 just inside the
gate am going into
darwin this am will call in and see if you are aboutwhen i come back probably about 11am
steve
FollowupID:
692427